Compare towns
Appleton vs Oakland vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Oakland | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,309Highest |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
| Smithfield and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.